5) Kitsch Bar, 891 Baker Street, Costa Mesa  92626. Kitsch Bar is more of a lounge, it is dark and comfortable. They always have good djs spinning while providing a laid-back atmosphere. There is a lot of seating with nice tables, drinks are great, the bartenders are friendly, and there is never a cover charge. The only problem with Kitsch is that the drinks are moderately expensive and it tends to get quite crowded, which limits seating options.

4) The Olde Ship, 709 N. Harbor Blvd. Fullerton, CA 92832. The Olde Ship has great style with its classic British themes. They have nice artwork, lots of seating, no cover charge, and a good selection of drinks. The downfall is that the jukebox is not great and it can get really crowded.

3) Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19^th Street, Costa Mesa 92627. Not only is this a good bar, but it also a great music venue. There are lots of seats, a pool room, a smoking patio, and space for a dance floor. Some nights have a cover charge, but that is only when a dj or a band is playing. The drinks are moderately expensive, but they are strong, so it makes up for it.

2) The Continental Room, 115 W. Santa Fe, Fullerton 92832. The Continental Room has great old school charm, there are huge booths and the red lighting and velvet wallpaper give it a 1920’s feeling. They have a great selection of martinis and all the drinks are fairly inexpensive. They also have great musical acts and a private room for entertaining.

1) The District Lounge, 223 W. Chapman, Orange 92866. The cream of the crop in the Orange County bar scene, the District features cheap drinks, tons of seating, a great jukebox, friendly staff, great live performers, and a comfortable atmosphere. This is the type of bar that encourages a good time.

LAGUNA BEACH, CA–Locals to the beautiful resort town of Laguna Beach, Calif., reserve the right to their favorite bars. They are a funny bunch, often called “Lagunatics.” However, if anyone knows where to go and to get drunk in Laguna, it’s the locals. So I trust them, and so should you…And, from these longtime residents, I have compiled an accurate “how-to” guide for the bars off the beaten path.

(Disclaimer: Having lived and worked in Laguna for almost five years does not make me a local. However, as an active member of the Laguna Beach restaurant community for the past 5 years, I feel qualified to direct you to the best places in Laguna to drink.)

The Saloon, located on South Coast Highway between the Cabana and Javier’s, is a perfect place to encounter an authentic, Laguna Beach experience. Locals have long called the bar “The Stand Up Bar” because few seats exist for patrons. The Saloon offers two signature drinks that are the stuff of legend: the Pine-O and the No Name Shot. Many locals and interesting characters stop by the tiny bar throughout the week from 11:00 am to closing. The Stand Up Bar represents one of the few bars in all of Orange County that offers a quirky taste of local culture, and the bartenders’ no-nonsense style will make you a regular.

Another great local spot in Laguna is Rick’s Partners Bistro, located next door to the Saloon. Partners is an upscale restaurant that advertises its cuisine as “Californian with a French accent.” The bar, however, is where you want to be–it features copper top counters and a dim-lit, romantic atmosphere. Live jazz and blue grass pulses through the restaurant Sunday through Thursday. Adam and Sean, the lead barkeeps for Partners, will lead you in your journey towards selecting the best single malt scotch or glass of fine wine to make your evening perfect.

A few blocks south of Partners is the Sandpiper, considered the “last stop” for locals. Popular bands, including the reggae group Common Sense, frequent the playlist. Sometimes, you will pay a cover, but it won’t cost you more than $5…and, the music will make up for the extra cabbage. Called “The Dirty Bird” by locals, the Sandpiper boasts a dance floor, great live music, and delicious cocktails.

The Saloon, Partners, and the Sandpiper represent my top three picks for Laguna Beach, however, many other worthy bars exist: the Marine Room, Hennessey’s, Laguna Beach Brewing Co., the White House, Cafe 230, French 75, and many more. But, if you need to start somewhere, start at the Saloon, and go from there… I guarantee you will drink, be merry, and experience the small town within the resort town. Good luck and good times.

You’ve braved 20-degree weather and paid six other people to join you–just to get tickets to the NCAA Final four. You’ve permanently tattooed you forehead with the Raiders logo, and dressed your girlfriend in a homemade suit of pom-poms. Dude, you need some serious professional couch time. Or a visit to a serious sports bar–in the good old O.C.

Dave & Busters’ for the BlackBerry Crowd

If you drive a Boxter, drink micro beers and carry a business card, this is your sports bar. An elaborate 20-screen video dome in the Viewpoint Bar keeps you directly in front of the action. No more straining to catch that winning turnover at the five-yard line, or missing that Hail Mary three-pointer from the sideline. Got the half-time blues? Not to worry, there are lots of high tech games to play. Like Carismo, a NASCAR-type simulator that puts you in a real race car chassis in front of a 60″ screen, where you can actually feel the car respond to your every move. You can also cut loose on a dance simulator, play world-class billiards, or a dozen other challenging video and sports games. The beer is bountiful, the bar babes are beautiful and the food is plentiful. D&B’s in O.C. Where the 5 and 405 Freeways meet in the Irvine Spectrum.

ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney an “E” ticket ride

The spoiler. Makes ordinary sports bars feel like Disney’s It’s a Wonderful World ride. Over 36,000-square feet of non-stop sports. An SUV-sized 16-foot screen and more than a dozen “small” 36-inchers get you close enough to lip read every expletive, every contested foul, even a close-up of Jack Nicholson smiling at the cheerleaders. If you’re team’s down by 20 and you think you’ll be out fifty bucks, you can let it all out in any of the many interactive games; heck, you can don a safety line and climb a rock at the huge rock-climbing wall. And if you’re teeth are floating, but you don’t want to miss the action, no problem, the restrooms have TVs.

Centerfield Sports Bar & Grille pub on steroids

It’s an action-packed sports bar. It’s a cozy neighborhood pub. It’s the one and only Centerfield Sports Bar & Grill in Huntington Beach. Watch your favorite sporting event on any of the six big-screen TVs. Or feast on a hearty meal without missing a touchdown or lay-up on one of the many smaller monitors scattered throughout the bar. The mouth-watering menu hits a home run. And if you strike out at the bar, or get bored at halftime, you can always shoot a little stick or challenge your sports buds to a spirited video game or electronic dartboard. Why, you could even get some work done if you bring your laptop, which you can plug into the wireless Internet hotspot. Centerfield Sports Bar & Grille 17296 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach.

The Off Campus Pub that’s on Playboy’s list

This college bar gets an A for athletics. And a B for best location right across the street from Cal-State Fullerton. Named by Playboy magazine as one of the top 10 college bars in the nation, this sports-watchers paradise is like one continuous kegger, highlighted by themed club nights and weekend concerts that draw capacity crowds. The CSUF sports memorabilia and dizzying array of beer ads make Off Campus feel like a party at “Animal House.” You can celebrate a home team win by grabbing your significant other and booging on the sunken dance floor. Or by hopping on stage and singing a couple of bars of You’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’. Come by yourself or bring your party buds. And don’t worry, the student-priced beer and appetizers leave you plenty of money for next semester’s textbooks. The Off Campus Pub 2736 East Nutwood Avenue, Fullerton.

National Sports Grill state-of-the-art for the sports state of mind

Voted Best Sports Grill in Southern California for ten straight years (by Orange County Register’s annual readers’ poll), National Sports Grill is the high- tech bar for high-intensity sports fans. Giant-screen TVs and banks of monitors showing a cornucopia of college and pro athletic competition are virtually everywhere. So whether you choose a table or barstool, you won’t miss a play. If you bored with the pre-game predictions, or half-time nonsense, you can play one of the remote NTN trivia games, or challenge your party buds to a game of 8 ball on one of the pro billiards tables. Suggestion: snack while you rack, order their famous cheese fries. And share a pitcher with fellow players’ buy a club membership and get any beer at a discount price for a whole year. One caveat: If you come for a big sporting event, it’s standing room only, so get there early. National Sports Grill 5970 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park.